3 September 2013

13th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF)

The 13th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival was made official in a Media Launch at Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall on Friday, 23rd August 2013.

It was officiated by YAM Tunku Laxamana Negeri Sembilan, Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Ja’afar, who is also Royal Patron of the Festival. The event kicked off with a breakdancing crew in chefs’ outfits as a teaser, before the screening of the MIGF television commercial and finally a runway entrance by the chefs of the Festival, in line with the theme “Cool Chefs- Cooking With Attitude!”

The media launch concluded with a press conference and Q&A with the Organising Chairman, Royal Patron and Festival Sponsors, at Tarbush Restaurant, one of the Festival Restaurants.

Press conference at Tarbush Restaurant

Taste MIGF – The Preview Event for the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival

The special preview event to the Festival, Taste MIGF, also returns this year after an overwhelming response from the public in its maiden outing last year. The event will now stretch over three days and nights, during which the public is invited to go on a Super Gourmet Safari in the Theatre of Cuisines, to shop for global range of gourmet products in the Epicure International Gourmet Village, and to take advantage of the Epicure Lifestyle Workshops.

Enjoy a Super Gourmet Safari!

Enjoy delicious, tasting portions from Malaysia’s best restaurants, all gathered under the specially created Theatre of Cuisines, serving up samples that are big enough to allow a full appreciation of the dish itself, yet small enough to ensure that all the restaurant offerings can be tried. Cuisines from around the world will populate the Theatre, including Contemporary Italian, Italian-Spanish, Latin American, French, Continental, Modern European, Contemporary Modern Grill, Thai, Authentic Cantonese, Japanese, and more. Completing the festive atmosphere will be live entertainment from concert bands, professional dancers, and non-stop deejay music, together with a large dance floor.

All You Need Are Taste Tokens!

All you need to take your Super Gourmet Safari are Taste Tokens, the official currency at the Theatre of Cuisines. Usual prices for a sample are between one and three Tokens which are valued at RM5 and available in books of 10. Purchase them at the venue on the day, or pre-purchased on-line and enjoy a special 5% discount (visit www.v4tickets.com).

The Theatre of Cuisines will open from 11am to 11pm on Saturday, 7th and Sunday, 8th September.

Shop At The Epicure International Gourmet Village!

Situated next door to the Theatre of Cuisines is the Epicure International Gourmet Village, featuring more than 80 purveyors of the finest gourmet food, wines, beverages, cigars and much else. Cash and Credit Cards will be the methods of payment in the Village, not Taste Tokens.

The Epicure International Gourmet Village will open to the public from 11am to 4pm on Friday, 6th September, 11am to 11pm on Saturday, 7th and Sunday, 8th September.

Enjoy Epicure Lifestyle Workshops!

An array of cooking classes and lifestyle workshops will take place throughout Taste MIGF, conducted by top professionals who are all recognised experts in their fields. Many of the Festival Master Chefs will share their culinary secrets! Wine and cigar appreciation classes offer the same opportunity, as well as a wide range of modern lifestyle and well-being workshops. There’s something for everyone here.

Admission is free as long as you hold a Taste Token booklet. Log on to www.tastemigf.com for updates on the cooking classes, workshops, and register yourself to avoid disappointment.

Workshops will be conducted throughout Saturday and Sunday, from noon until 8pm.

Words From The Sponsors

Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab , Director General of Tourism Malaysia

The support of the Sponsors and Media Partners is paramount to the Festival, not least of which comes from Tourism Malaysia. Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, puts forth that “…the Festival shines the spotlight on Malaysia’s dining scene making it world famous and attracting more higher-income tourists to our shores. MIGF has done a great job over the last 13 years – and we applaud its success.”

Trevor Bull, CEO of Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad,

Further support this year comes from Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad, the Official Insurance Partner. “Zurich is delighted to be the official insurance partner for MIGF 2013. At Zurich, we pride ourselves at being committed to our customers and the communities in which we live and work. We hope that through premium quality food, we can extend that same commitment that we provide premium quality services to our customers,” says CEO, Trevor Bull.

Henrik Anderson, MD Carlsberg Malaysia

Carlsberg Malaysia are once again offering Kronenbourg 1664 Lager and Kronenbourg Blanc as the “Official Beers of the Festival” and “…look forward to sharing with, the tens of thousands of diners at the participating restaurants, an even greater variety of brands for MIGF 2013” – MD Carlsberg Malaysia, Henrik Anderson.

Dr Mary Wong, CEO of Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council

The “Official Health Partner” is the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council, with CEO Dr Mary Wong mentioning that “It is with great pleasure that MHTC can now say that Malaysia is one of the world's Top 10 healthcare travel destinations and our fabulous food continues to be a key ingredient…Keep up the good work, MIGF”.

Other sponsors include U Mobile as the “Official Mobile Service Provider”, Fujifilm as the “Official Imaging Partner” and Range Rover as the “Official Car” of the Festival.

The fabulous support of the Festival Media Partners continues this year, with Astro Malaysia Holdings, Astro Radio Sdn Bhd (with broadcasting radio-spots from Lite FM and Melody FM), Asian Food Channel, Seni Jaya for billboard coverage across the city, and finally Vision Four and Vision KL for their nationwide publicity.

Impact on Malaysia’s F&B Industry

Last year, Festival Restaurants generated annual receipts in excess of RM150 million, however the trickle down effect of the Festival extends far beyond this. MIGF impacts the entire F&B industry as well as raising the bar each year by fostering friendly competition between the market leaders. Not to mention, the country’s top chefs and F&B professionals become role models for young people joining the industry, who see a future in Malaysia rather than taking their skills elsewhere.

MIGF2013 : Cool Chefs – Cooking With Attitude!”

The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival is the globally acknowledged, month-long event promoting premium dining to the nation and the world. This year’s theme is “Cool Chefs – Cooking With Attitude”, and is an exciting platform for the Festival’s brilliant Master Chefs to out-do themselves in fierce but friendly competition. Having witnessed ever-increasing success each year since its inception in 2001, MIGF is the region’s premier and most celebrated fine food event, and now officially a part of Tourism Malaysia’s “Fabulous Food 1Malaysia” initiative.